Phillies top prospect J.P. Crawford is moving up to the highest level of the minors. The shortstop on Friday was promoted to Triple A Lehigh Valley.
Crawford hit .265 in 166 plate appearances with Double A Reading this season but had a .398 on-base percentage, fourth-highest in the Eastern League. He led the league with 30 walks.
At just 21 years old, Crawford is 5.8 years younger than the International League average.
Phillies farm director Joe Jordan said prior to the season that if Crawford had a hot start, he wouldn't be long for Double A. He showed enough at the plate and in the field to warrant a call-up after 36 games.
Crawford is regarded as an above-average defender at shortstop, but he made too many miscues last season, committing 27 errors. This season, he has seven errors in 191 defensive chances for a fielding percentage (.963) 10 points better than his career mark.
There was no shortstop blocking Crawford at Triple A. Veterans Taylor Featherston and Ryan Jackson had been splitting the position.
The 16th overall pick in 2013, Crawford has hit .288/.384/.406 throughout his minor-league career with 190 walks and 184 strikeouts.
